Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 3, Number 3, 1 March 1986 — Autograph Session Draws Large Crowd [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Autograph Session Draws Large Crowd

Feather Artforms in New Holt Book

More than 350 family members, friends, well-wishers and people from various segments of the community gathered Jan. 30 to honor and congratulate longtime Hawaiian Publisher John Dominis Holt upon the publication of his new book, "The Art of Featherwork in Old Hawaii." People stood in a long line to purchase the sp>ecial hardcover edition of the book and to have it personally autographed by this distinguished author, publisher and eommunity leader from the deep-rooted kamaaina Holt ohana. The location was appropriate to the occasion as Holt established himself at a table in Hawaii Hall of the Bishop Museum graced by a big beautiful arrangement of dark red roses and Hawaiian foliage to sign autographs for a seemingly endless line of some of the communitv's leadinq citizens.

Topgjllant Publishing Company Ltd. ean be proud of its latest production whieh is in vivid "living color" as commercialized by one of the television networks and its loeal affiliates throughout the country. Little has been said or written about Hawaiian featherwork and for this reason John Dominis Holt's "The Art of Featherwork in 01d Hawaii" has been published as the first complete book about this cultural genre. Within its more than 170 pages is a spectacular collection of family histories, legends, chants, scholarly commentaries

and an exquisite gallery of original artworks and photographs whieh sing the praises of the Hawaiians' fantastic feather artforms. Within eaeh object — and this book — are mystery, poetry and enduring spirituality of form, design and texture unique to Hawaii. This is a book well worth the $29.95 price tag and a treasure for anyone's Hawaiian library section. It is an outstanding work whieh should be a "must" on everyone's literary list.

Following the autograph session, guests made their way to the Hawaiian court yard where they munched on heavy pupus, were served beverages, renewed friendships, made new friertds and had a family reunion of sorts. All of this was accompanied by entertainment furnished by the Kekua Fernandez trio. Book orders ean be filled by calling T opgallant at 524-0884.

Mrs. Rona Rodenhurst gets her autographed book from John Dominis Holt, seated, while Bishop Estate Trustee and former Chief Justice William Richardson and others wait their turn in line.